Who is writing the script for ‘joker’ Jamal, asks Rafizi

Scriptwriter and Red Shirts leader wrong if they think fascist, racist members can be controlled.

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR lawmaker Rafizi Ramli today asked who the scriptwriter was for Malaysia’s “most effective joker”, Jamal Md Yunos.

Expressing concern over Jamal’s “racist and fascist” statements as well as his tendency to hold silat performances in public areas, Rafizi said the Red Shirts leader’s script appeared to be written by someone who knew how to tap into the Malay psyche.

“There is a pattern to everything he (Jamal) does. And his martial art displays clearly show that he is trying to capitalise on the Malay psyche. The Malays believe that silat was what protected them against the other races back in 1969,” he said.

Rafizi was referring to the May 13, 1969 racial riots, that according to reports at the time, saw more than 100 people killed.

“So it has a very deep, threatening connotation and is meant to provoke and evoke the deepest ultra-right wing element of society.

“While I take what Jamal said about the hungry Red Shirts who would be present at the Bersih 5 rally this Saturday as just a joke, my biggest concern is who is actually writing the scripts (for Jamal),” he told a press conference at the Parliament lobby here.

The Pandan MP said this was because Jamal was not smart enough to know how to “touch the right psychological buttons” and only knew how to run an “unsuccessful ikan bakar business”.

Jamal, who is also the Sungai Besar Umno division chief, has promised to hold a counter-rally to Bersih 5’s and yesterday, warned that come this Saturday, he would have no control over the actions of his “hungry” men.

Rafizi however was not concerned about the threat, saying that he and Bersih supporters would not be intimidated by Jamal.

He also urged the public to join them in celebrating the democratic space that government dissenters had fought for over the years.

He, however, warned Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar that if he did not immediately address the Red Shirts’ threat, he would go down in history as the top cop who failed to safeguard his men and the public.

“Unfortunately, on the side of the ultra-right wing, there are fascists and racists gathered under the Red Shirts banner.

“If whoever is writing the script for Jamal believes that they can control these fascists and racists, (I am telling them) they cannot.

“Especially Khalid. If you don’t do anything to stop Jamal now, you are putting your men and Bersih 5 participants in danger. You have allowed Jamal the space to spread hatred.” FMT